Anik apologizes for criticism of MMA fan base: 'I've learned a lot'

UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik said Saturday he regretted the comments he made about negativity among MMA fans during a recent episode of his podcast.

"I was in a heightened emotional state following myriad allegations of bias at UFC 297 and I made some regrettable comments relating to the MMA fan base," Anik said in a statement on Instagram. "While I was surprised at the extent to which my comments were re-purposed and sensationalized, I need to be more responsible on an open microphone."

Following new UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis' split-decision win over Sean Strickland, Anik said Wednesday on the "Anik & Florian Podcast" that he had read a lot of disrespectful remarks on social media and that he was tired of "dealing with this lowest common denominator all the time."

The 45-year-old added that he wasn't sure "how much longer I have left in this space."

Several fighters, including former title challengers Paulo Costa and Gilbert Burns, supported Anik's comments on social media. Strickland, who dropped the 185-pound belt in his first title defense at UFC 297 in Toronto, took the opposite route by tweeting, "Maybe the NFL is a better choice for you than MMA."

Anik said Saturday his emotions got the best of him.

"So much work goes into the execution of just one UFC pay-per-view so it can be tough when my integrity on broadcast is called into question," Anik said. "That doesn't excuse my retort. I am just a fiery, passionate, flawed, empathetic guy and sometimes my emotions lead the dance.

"To those MMA fans whom I've offended, I am sorry. That was not my intention. For 12 years, I've prided myself on being accessible to the fan base and that will continue. I've learned a lot over the last 48 hours."

Anik has been a UFC commentator since 2012 and the lead play-by-play man since 2017.